parakeet

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Posts by parakeet

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  51

  what is the definition of a christian?

  by sinamongurl in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what does christian mean anyway?

  doesnt it mean a follower of christ.....a man?

  arent "we" supposed to be followers of god and not man?

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  parakeet

  little toe, "So a Christian is a mimic?"
  A christian who adheres to the forms of Jesus's teaching and not to the substance misses the point. But I think there are many who are christian in the truest sense.
  I'm sure Jesus had personal relationships with his disciples, but I don't think it follows that after his death one can have a "personal relationship" with him. He's been dead for 2000 years!
  BTW, I'm a sort of atheist/taoist/pagan hybrid.
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  51

  what is the definition of a christian?

  by sinamongurl in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what does christian mean anyway?

  doesnt it mean a follower of christ.....a man?

  arent "we" supposed to be followers of god and not man?

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  2. 
  3. 
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  parakeet

  Sorry about the blank posts! Kept hitting the wrong button.
  My definition of a christian is someone who tries to imitate the substance of what Jesus did and taught, not his specific actions and words. Jesus was a rebel, someone who saw the hypocrisy in his society and tried to do something about it. He upset the status quo, defied religious conventions and traditions, and stressed love for humanity as the primary principle to live by.
  IMO, Jesus would scorn the forms his teachings have taken over the centuries--organized, dogmatic, massive hierarchies that profess to follow his footsteps, but in reality are concerned more with retaining their power and wealth than with helping the poor. The mindless reciting of Jesus' prayers, the various imitations of the last supper, the ludicrous ceremony of pontiffs washing the feet of a pauper once a year--all these are empty shells of love that have nothing to do with the reality of what Jesus taught.
  I don't believe Jesus was trying to establish religions and cults in his name, nor was he looking to develop a "personal relationship" with people. I believe he was trying to open everyone's eyes to the reality of the present--to turn people's minds toward ferreting out greed and fear in their society and to turn their hands toward helping those who are oppressed by the powerful.
  Anyone--Buddhist, atheist, pagan, you name it--who lovingly and selflessly tries to help others, even if it means going against authority, law, and tradition, is a christian, by my definition. Anyone who merely observes traditions, attends church, recites prayers, but does nothing to help others in distress is playacting at being christian.
  Buddhists have a saying: "If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him!" It means that when you have learned the lessons of your master, it's time to part from the master and make your own path in the world. You don't need to keep looking back at the lessons Jesus taught; you need to make it your own and move on.
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  51

  what is the definition of a christian?

  by sinamongurl in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what does christian mean anyway?

  doesnt it mean a follower of christ.....a man?

  arent "we" supposed to be followers of god and not man?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  parakeet
• 
  51

  what is the definition of a christian?

  by sinamongurl in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what does christian mean anyway?

  doesnt it mean a follower of christ.....a man?

  arent "we" supposed to be followers of god and not man?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  parakeet
• 
  51

  what is the definition of a christian?

  by sinamongurl in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what does christian mean anyway?

  doesnt it mean a follower of christ.....a man?

  arent "we" supposed to be followers of god and not man?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  parakeet
• 
  94

  Saturday District Convention notes: Don't research JW's online!!!!

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  with two thirds of my sentence complete, i am almost ready for parole.. there was some unbelievable stuff said today - i think there must be some sort of hallucinogenic gas coming through the ac, because no one batted an eyelid over what was said from the platform.. as usual, i will highlight the main talks.. .

  saturday.

  "deliver us from the wicked one and from every sort of lawlessness" - matt 6:13, titus 2:14. .

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  parakeet

  "A sense of urgency should permeate every aspect of our lives. We are deep in the time of the end."
  
  Yeah, we are deep in a pile of something, all right. Thanks, truthseeker. You have tons more patience than I have, to sit through all that.
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  43

  Should I make a stink about this or not?

  by merfi in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been working at the same hospital since 1991. a jw chick is hired this past january.

  the hospital friends have been and are my support system as well as my 'team'.. a nurse friend played stupid last week and talked to the jw girl.

  the jw asked her what religion she was.

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  parakeet

  Another possibility might be to go to your and/or her supervisor(s) and tell them about the slander. He/she/they might be concerned to know that an employee is spreading malicious gossip about you, which could damage you and the morale of your office. Maybe they will tell her to shut up.
  The effectiveness of this tactic depends on what kind of boss you have (you are the best judge of that). I would not let the matter lie, as it will only encourage her to talk more and further injure your reputation.
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  10

  Is this a "staying in the group" technique?

  by I-follow-the-narrow-path in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i noticed that some of the members in the church are giving me gifts... for no apparent reason.

  are they just nice, or do they do this to keep me in the church.

  also, if i hear the word "the truth" one more time... ahhh... i keep hearing it left and right... it seems weird to hear.

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  parakeet

  After all the good advice you've been getting here, WHY WHY WHY are you still going to meetings and then posting here about JW tactics in such a wondering tone. I'm sorry, but you sound like you're a just a few fries short of a Happy Meal. If you're going to ignore everything said to you in this forum, then at least do yourself the favor of going to a qualified mental health professional NOW.
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  10

  Bogus remnant data for 1935?

  by headmath in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  m.j. started a very "interesting" thread here:

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/114377/1.ashx

  m.j. quotes from several sources for attendance and partakers at the 1935 memorial:.

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  parakeet

  headmath, could you please explain why a constant ratio is statistically significant? Statistics are not my strong suit.
  Thanks.
  parakeet, of the mathematically challenged class
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  26

  Former sisters, remember the pant suit controversy in the seventies?

  by Sunnygal41 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was in my late 'teens, working for my own money, and polyester pant suits were all the rage in fashion.

  working at mc'donald's, i was able to afford two nice matching suits, with the jacket and vest, and a matching shirt...........these i wore to meetings, when i went.

  then, the jw grapevine went into action, regarding the suitablity for a sister to be wearing pants at a meeting.

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  parakeet

  Yes, the org wanted that "wholesome" Betty Crocker look no matter how uncomfortable or inconvenient. But the org wasn't the only one; my high school in the 60s demanded that girls wear skirts or dresses. I had to walk 1 1/2 miles to school (and yes, it was uphill both ways!) in frigid weather; my legs would all but freeze. 3 years after I graduated, they started allowing slacks. Doh!